Description: Harbor seals range from 5-6 feet in length and weigh 175-300 lbs, the females being slightly smaller than the males. The harbor seal is whitish or grayish at birth and as an adult becomes generally gray with black spots. They have an excellent sense of smell and very sensitive whiskers which when used detect vibrations in the water. Interesting enough, they have no external earflaps. Harbor seals are crawlers. They have small flippers, but must move on land by flopping along on their bellies because their hind limbs cannot rotate forward to support the body. Not a vocal animal, this seal only snorts or growls. Behavior: Harbor seals spend about half their time on land and half in water. They can dive down to 1,500 ft for up to 40 minutes, although their average dive lasts 3-7 minutes. Seals are wary of people and will rush into the water if approached too quickly. They have been known to abandon favorite haul-out sites or pups if disturbed too frequently. Harbor Seals prefer shallow bays with gradual slopes; they can live in salt or fresh water.

Reproduction: Harbor seal pups can be born between March and September and weigh about 30 lbs at birth. A pup can swim at birth and will sometimes ride on its mother’s back when tired.